Best breakdown cover for Euro drive holiday?

[g3org3y]

Off down through France, across Italy and back up again next Monday for a couple of weeks. Taking the E30. Although I trust it (as much as I trust my gf), I still think Euro cover would be worthwhile.

AA have quoted around £100 for cover. Seems quite a lot for only two weeks. Any other recommendations?

TIA

[sday12]

ADAC: German 'AA' 1 years UK/Europe for the cost of 2 weeks European cover:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[GreigM]

go onto some of the online comparison sites and look for an annual policy which has european cover included - I got something like a year with Kwik-Fit for £54 which included full euro cover

[SubaruSteve]

AA is probably not the cheapest but having had to use their service twice I would still recommend them. No hassle and cars fixed/towed home loan cars sorted out etc with no fuss.

[Ranger 6]

I pay £65 for annual breakdown cover which includes EU cover and homestart - worth doing as that price is about the usual for a weeks travel cover.

http://www.bridleinsurance.co.uk/

[andrewrob]

I've used Britannia rescue abroad before. They were very helpful and flexible.
They didn't have anything the same size as mine at the local car rental place so I asked if I could pick one up from a nearby airport instead. They booked a taxi for me without me asking which collected me from the garage (after dropping my car off) and the hire car was waiting for me when I got there.

When I returned the car, a taxi was waiting to take me back to the garage to collect my car.
Very easy.

[g3org3y]

Thanks for the advice

[sday12]

The Crack Fox said:

sday12 said:

ADAC: German 'AA' 1 years UK/Europe for the cost of 2 weeks European cover:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

+1

Actually scrub that:

Vehicle Rescue Direct Breakdown Cover from AXA Assistance, £35 for 24 days if you want a single trip.

ADAC is Euro 79, but annual.

[Gow3r]

I agree with Andrewrob.

I have been with brittannia as have my family for many years. We broke down in France some years ago. Dedicated phone line with an interpreter (speak no french) etc etc to get the car fixed. Was taken to a garage that day and we had it back the next. Very simple no stress.

Also for their best cover is quite cheap in comparison to the likes of AA etc

[g3org3y]

sday12 said:

Actually scrub that:

Vehicle Rescue Direct Breakdown Cover from AXA Assistance, £35 for 24 days if you want a single trip.

ADAC is Euro 79, but annual.

Nice one. I am of course hoping I don't need it!

So far:
- TomTom
- Maps
- High Vis jackets
- Warning triangle
- Spare bulbs
- Insurance/V5 etc

Need:
- Beam deflectors (although according to the chaps on E30Zone there is an adjustment in the lamps themselves)

Tempted to get a battery booster as well just in case.

[sday12]

Cash for the Gendarme!

[andrewrob]

If you are reasonably handy with a car I'd take a basic set of tools too. Its saved me a lot of time in the past.

[g3org3y]

sday12 said:

Cash for the Gendarme!

I hear they will march you to the nearest cashpoint to pay the fine!

andrewrob said:

If you are reasonably handy with a car I'd take a basic set of tools too. Its saved me a lot of time in the past.

Got a set in the boot. Nothing exciting but enough to tide me over for minor bits and pieces.

[g3org3y]

Looks like plenty of places aren't keen on the car being >10 years old. (It's 25 years old in fact!)

[andrewrob]

My brother had his old Merc 190 2.3 covered with britania and that's 1986.

[Balmoral Green]

Have you checked with your cars insurer? if it's a specialist or classic policy, European breakdown cover may already be included. We are off to Italy next week, the level of cover I already have with RH was just as good as an online comparison, and the AA, and it's free.

[g3org3y]

andrewrob said:

My brother had his old Merc 190 2.3 covered with britania and that's 1986.

I checked Britania, their cheapest was 130+

Balmoral Green said:

Have you checked with your cars insurer? if it's a specialist or classic policy, European breakdown cover may already be included. We are off to Italy next week, the level of cover I already have with RH was just as good as an online comparison, and the AA, and it's free.

Unfortunately my insurance (with AA) doesn't cover Eurobreakdown. I did get a 'discount' on my quote, still came to £110.

Found a company via MoneySuperMarket (First Call), full Euro cover for a year, £77. With any luck I won't need it.

The E30 is not a garage queen and is used almost every day. The only foible is an occasional flat battery if the car is left for long periods but I think that is owing to a small drain from the aftermarket alarm. Otherwise I've no real reason to doubt it. It certainly handled many miles around Cornwall a few months with no issues at all.

Here's hoping!

[CampDavid]

ADAC gives you full co0ver for the year in Europe AND the UK. They usually send the AA out.

A mate has used them a fair bit and they've always been great

[Corsair7]

Forget comparison websites and prices.

If you want the 'best deal' but dont actually care if you get stranded in the arse end of some backwater for weeks awaiting recovery/parts then go on price.

If you want an actual service worth paying for get ADAC coverage.

The price comaprison websites only measure cost, not service.

[Balmoral Green]

Corsair7 said:

The price comaprison websites only measure cost

The ones I've been on, for all sorts of products, give columns of features and benefits etc, so you can check the exact level of cover. Many of them allow you to specify, and then compare price only for that specified level of cover. Like for like. So even if you have the filter set for 'cheapest' it's not automatically the lowest level of cover too, it's for the same level of cover.